1171 NE Sand Hill Rd | Belfair, WA 98528

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Pastor's Page 2020-09-27

Dear Parishioners:

  • Responding to the call of our American Bishops and our own Archbishop Etienne, our parish community of St. Gabriel is joining with all the parishes of the Archdiocese of Seattle to take up an “emergency collection” this weekend of September 26 & 27 for all people who have been affected by Hurricanes Laura & Sally and the many wild fires from many different states.

Our prayerful and financial support is greatly needed.  The proceeds from this special collection will be distributed by the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) to Catholic Charities USA for direct disaster relief, and to support the pastoral and rebuilding efforts of the affected areas.  Thank you for generous response to the help of all the Victims of Hurricanes Laura & Sally and many Wild Fires.

  • Today’s Matthew Gospel story, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, begins by introducing us to the familiar scenario of a father who asks each of his sons to go out and work in the vineyard. Initially the first son responds negatively, but then repents or has a complete change of heart and goes out to work.  The second son acknowledges with lip service his father’s request and gives in, but does not follow through on his promise.

Today many claims to know Christ but do not live the Christian life.  It doesn’t matter so much what you say on the outside if it is not matched by your heart on the inside, or your actions.  Lip service to Christ that is merely an outward polite promises and pious platitudes is empty by comparison with the inward acceptance of the message that prompts people to repentance and action.

What God looks for is the final outcome in people’s lives.  God is infinitely patient with us and can certainly tolerate our initial “no” on the way to our final, definitive “yes.”

  • Next Thursday is the beginning of the month of October, reminding us of the month of Respect for Life. As a people of faith, we value the gift of Life – from conception to natural death.  We join with our Church to pray for this gift of Life and the “Freedom to choose Life” and “Religious Freedom” with a Novena (9 days) in this effort.    
  • October is also the Month of the Rosary. There are opportunities to pray the Rosary before each Mass on the weekend; come early before Mass and join with other parishioners to pray this beautiful traditional prayer for Life and Peace.
  • Happy Parish Feast Day (Sunday, September 29) – Feast of Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Archangel Gabriel had many different roles as a messenger of God; among several events in the Bible, the most memorable one is the Annunciation – God’s message to our Blessed Mother Mary who was chosen to be the Mother of Jesus, the Son of God.
  • Thank you, Tony Melchiors and Bill Gibbs-Egan, who are the co-Chairs of, Prince of Peace and St. Gabriel, for the Called to Serve as Christ Archdiocesan Campaign, which has begun this month (September 20 – October 11). Bill has shared his thoughts about this special Archdiocesan campaign last weekend at St. Gabriel in inviting us to recall the memories and influences of the priests and religious sisters who have impacted our lives over the years.

The Archdiocese has initiated a campaign to provide long-term funding for retirement and medical needs of priests and women religious, as well as support of individual parishes. A successful campaign will allow the Archdiocese to:

    • Establish a stronger position to provide a consistent, appropriate retirement for priests by moving from a pay-as-you-go system to a fully-funded model for priest pension and medical plans.
    • Increase the ability of women religious orders to care for their senior members while continuing their ministry to God’s people.
    • Give parishes more resources for their local ministries, services, works and programs.
    • Lead by example in prayer, action, and generosity.
    • Reinforce a dynamic faith for the next generation of Catholics in Western Washington.

You should have already received a package from Archbishop Paul Etienne this past week or will be in your mailbox very soon.  Please read through this material prayerfully and respond with a gift of Faith.  Archbishop Etienne will not able to contact you personally, although, he will do his part in this once a lifetime Capital Campaign and many of your generous parishioners from our own parish, also, have volunteered to give you a call to remind you about this campaign in the days and weeks ahead.  Please receive their calls in the spirit of generosity and partaking in an opportunity to strengthen and build up the Body of Christ in our local Church of Western Washington (Archdiocese of Seattle).

October 10-11 is the Called to Serve as Christ Campaign GIVING WEEKEND.

For more information on the campaign you can visit the Campaign website: https://www.calledtoserveaschrist.org/

 

Christ’s Peace, 
Fr. Phuong Hoang

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